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Activities : Fishing in Freshwater

Photos from Fellsendavatn Fly fishing at Fellsendavatn.

Photos from Thorisvatn Fly fishing in Iceland

Iceland is a North Atlantic island measuring 103,000 km2 in size, which lies just south of the Arctic Circle. The inhabitants of Iceland have through the centuries depended on the “catch of the day”, either from the ocean or from rivers and lakes. Icelanders have been fishermen since the country was settled and taken great care to preserve their natural surroundings, by carefully monitoring their fishing industry, among other things. The nation is to this day highly dependent on fishing, with fish and fish products accounting for above 50% of their foreign exports.

Perhaps this fisherman's blood has played a part in making Icelanders keen on angling and other forms of hunting. Iceland’s clean air and pristine nature have made the country a favored location for outdoor sports, both among Icelanders and foreign visitors. In addition to angling, bird and reindeer hunting have been gaining in popularity. The enjoyment of the outdoors, the chance to relax alone or with friends by one of some 100 salmon rivers, can be an unforgettable experience.

Salmon fishing has been practiced in Iceland since the first settlers arrived in the late 800 AD. Dragnets were widely used, but now people debate if our ancestors fished by rod or not. Soon after 1860, English and Scottish gentlemen came here to fish for salmon. They frequented rivers in the south-west area, such as the Ellidaár, Grímsá, Langá, Thverá and Nordurá. Some even bought all fishing rights in rivers, like the Ellidaár and the Langá. This continued for the next 50 years until the First World War put an end to it. Even though some of the anglers returned after the war, the attendance was never the same.

In the late 1960s some American anglers rediscovered Icelandic salmon fishing and soon Americans became the most common foreign fishermen in Iceland. In the last two decades, the number of European anglers has increased, and by now, they are almost as numerous as Americans. The influx of foreign anglers increased the demand for good fishing, and raised the prices considerably, so local fishermen were not at all pleased. By now, this dispute has settled and Icelandic anglers acknowledge that salmon fishing is a costly sport.

As the salmon populations worldwide were drastically depleted and threatened due to overfishing and other ravaging environmental damage, the Icelandic salmon stocks have stayed constant and have actually increased somewhat during the past 20 years. The salmon may be considered a threatened species in the world today - however most experts will tell this is not the case with the Icelandic salmon populations. This is almost unique in a world today where one so often hears fishing tales in nostalgic and sad terms of "how great the fishing used to be when i was a boy...".

There are more than 100 self-sustaining salmon rivers in Iceland. Of those, at least 25 offer the prime time on the international market. The most famous of all rivers in Iceland is probably Laxá emptying from Lake Myvatn in the north. Most rivers market their fishing as a 6-or 7-day packages, including the fishing permit, all food and accommodation, one guide with a car for every two rods, and all local transport. A few rivers also offer shorter terms.

Prices and services differ somewhat for salmon fishing. Currently anglers may expect to pay from about $800 to $1,850+ (600- 1250+ €) per rod/day. A high price it may seem – but almost all rivers are fully booked well in advance proving that the market is willing to pay this price for the fishing - simply because it is just so good. Many rivers are booked years in advance and even testamented wills can often include retainment of these rights within families! Getting into some rivers is therefore - crazy as it may seem - nearly impossible regardless of price.

Lower prices can be expected for rivers with little or no services, self-catering cabins, trout fishing, lake fishing and fishing in the highlands. You must have a license (or in rare instances - written permission from the landowners) to fish anywhere in Iceland. If you break this rule and are apprehended – you can expect to be fined very heavily or even put in jail.

Some of the best salmon fishing in Iceland can to our guests delight be found near Hotel Ranga in South Iceland. The Eystri Rangá river - only 50 meters from the hotel - was the number one salmon river (in terms of total nr of fish caught) in 2004 + 2005. It´s twin river Yttri Rangá near Hella was nr 1 river in 2006 (see also catches 2004-2006). These two rivers are heavily booked and steeply priced July & August. They are then also sold as full catering rivers at 2 seperate salmon lodges by Laxá, but fishing here is often excellent later in the season (all the way into October actually). The river is also then self-catered and is therefore much more moderately priced.

Hróarslækur and Affallið are two other small "new" rivers close to Hotel Ranga that now hold decent salmon stocks (and sea trout and/or char) and are reasonably priced. Other salmon rivers in the the south that also deserve mention are Hólsá, Skógá, Tungufljót, Stora Laxá incl at Ida, Bruará, Hvítá (at points where clearwater tributaries empty into the often murky glacial waters), Sogið and Vatnsá.

Sea trout rivers (with huge fish being caught annually) of importance include Thverá, Varmá, Vatnsá, Yttri Rangá, Grenlækur, Geirlandsá, Vatnamot, Fossalar, Eldvatn, Affallið, Hólsá, Kerlingardalsá and Álar.

The world-class fishing of the freshwater species of arctic char and brown trout – sometimes of enormous sizes and quantities – can be found in lowland lakes such as Thingvallavatn, Heiðarvatn (see study), Hrutsvatn, Tangavatn, Gislholtsvatn, Alftavatn; and higland waters including Lakes Veidivötn, Fellsendavatn, Thórisvatn, Lakes Kvislarveita, Froststadavatn, Ljotipollur, Domadalsvatn, Saudleysuvatn, Herbjarnarfellsvatn, Lifrarfjallavatn, Eskihlidarvatn, Kylingavatn and Kirkjufellsvatn.

Fishing trout and char in rivers/streams can be done in Vatnsá, Minnivallarlækur, Galtalækur, Kaldakvisl, Bruará, Skógá, Tungná, Litla Laxá and Stokkalækur. Fishing trout/char in smaller ponds include the nearby pool of Lambahagi, Skógartjörn by Skógar, and in dams by Fagridalur and Höfdabrekka near Kerlingardalsá outside Vik. All this excellent fishing is a well-kept secret outside Iceland.

For more precise details, regulations, prices and information – please contact Hotel Ranga or check this link for a summary of fishing license retailers in South Iceland. Some of the operators selling licenses in the region include Laxá, Strengir, The Angling Club of Reykjavik, The Skogar Fishing Club, The Hrauneyjar Highland Center, Lakes Veidivötn and The Federation of Landowners in Iceland. Visit also GoFishinginIceland and nat.is for more info about fishing in Iceland.

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